Phone: (330) 372-2215 Email: ccicero@youngstowndiocese.org
Father Cicero became the pastor of Blessed Sacrament and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parishes on August 22, 2020. Born and raised in Warren, Ohio he attended Catholic schools at St. James, St. Mary’s, and John F. Kennedy Catholic High School, class of 2001. After one year of college at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., he entered the seminary for the Diocese of Youngstown. In 2005, he earned a Bachelor of Philosophy and History from the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. As a seminarian at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, he received a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 2008. He continued his studies at the Pontifical Saint John Paul II Institute for Studies in Marriage and Family. Bishop George V. Murry, S.J. ordained him to the priesthood on July 18, 2010. As his first priestly assignment, completed a License of Sacred Theology at the John Paul Il Institute in Rome. In 2011, he was appointed parochial vicar of St. Christine Parish in Youngstown. On February 1, 2014, he became the pastor of St. Jude, Columbiana, and Our Lady of Lourdes East Palestine where he served until coming to Warren. Father’s mother and father live in Singer Island, Florida, and Warren. He has an older brother and younger sister and brother-in-law. Father loves parish ministry. He asks for prayers for vocations to the priesthood.
Born in April, 1954, Fr. Edward Stafford is a native of Youngstown where he attended Sacred Heart School, Ursuline High School and Youngstown State University. His mother was a teacher at Sacred Heart School for 20 years and his father worked in advertising at The Catholic Exponent for over 25 years. He is the youngest of four children.
Fr. Stafford also attended Kent State University earning a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling. From 1982 to 1994 he worked for the State of Ohio Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation as a counselor and case manager for the rehabilitation division of the Bureau of Worker’s Compensation.
Fr. Stafford was ordained November 20, 1999 as a Franciscan priest serving in a variety of assignments in West Virginia and Pennsylvania from 1999 until 2012. In 2012, Fr. Stafford left the Franciscan Order and sought incardination to the Diocese of Youngstown (process by which clergy from one ecclesiastical jurisdiction are brought under the authority of another jurisdiction). Since his return to the Diocese of Youngstown, he has served at Parishes in Canton, Girard, McDonald and on the Ursuline High School Board. He was also a committee member of the Human Rights Council of Youngstown Developmental Center until the center closed and he was involved with prison ministry at the Trumbull Correctional Institution.
In August, 2019, Fr. Stafford began serving Saint Joseph, Saint Ambrose as well as Saint Michael Parishes. Each parish remained its own entity with staffs, programs, ministries and organizations. Saint Michael’s was designated an oratory (open only for feast day celebrations, weddings, funerals and other prayer opportunities) and in December 2021, Saint Michael’s was permanently closed merging with Saint Ambrose. On May 27, 2022, Fr. Ed was granted a medical health leave. In January 2023, he returned from medical leave to serve as parochial vicar of Blessed Sacrament and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parishes.
Deacon Ed Kleese is a 62-year-old permanent deacon in the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio. He and his wife, Diane M. Kleese, are members of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (SEAS), a Roman Catholic parish in Warren, Ohio. Children include 4 married daughters, 1 married son, 5 granddaughters, and 5 grandsons. Ed is a petroleum engineer and a union member of Operating Engineers Local #66. Hobbies include taking autumn vacations with wife, Diane, up to New England, being with the children and grandchildren, raising sweet corn, and gardening. Deacon Ed felt a call to the diaconate in 2013 and was blessed to be ordained a permanent deacon on August 31st of 2019 at St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown, Ohio. He currently diaconates (along with brother deacons Robert Simmerly and Joseph Toth) at both sites of SEAS (St. James and SS. Cyril and Methodius) and also at Blessed Sacrament parish. Ministries include funeral and prison ministry, and the altar server instructor for SEAS. Special spiritual devotions include those to the Sacred Heart and Blood of Jesus, the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Ever-Virgin Mary (along with the Rosary, Brown Scapular, and Miraculous Medal), St. Joseph, and St. Edward.
Deacon Bob Simmerly has been a member at SEAS for over 30 years. He was born and raised in Fairview Park, Ohio in the Cleveland Diocese and was a member of St. Angela Merici Parish. He is one of eight children, 5 boys and 3 girls to Herb and Carol Simmerly. All of them went to catholic school from grade school through high school. As you can see, handing on the faith was important. Mom and Dad had a deep faith and love for the Catholic Church. He graduated from St. Edward High School in 1977. He wrestled in high school, was in the high school play and was a member of the same religious retreat team throughout high school. After graduation he coached C.Y.O. wrestling at our parish for 4 years. College did not start for him until 1983. He graduated from Borromeo Seminary College in 1987, then attended St. Mary’s Major Seminary in Cleveland for one year, leaving in 1988. Eight months later, he was working as a medical courier and his job brought him to the Warren area. One of his clients is now the love of his life for 30 years. Deb and her two girls and himself became a family on May 18, 1991. The Church was always important to him and with Fr. Crumbley’s guidance and blessings and his wife’s support, he entered the permanent diaconate program in 2004. On September 13, 2020, he celebrated 12 years as a permanent deacon. His first love is his family. He feels very lucky to have both.
Sr. Alina Marie is a Junior Sister with the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate. Originally from Georgia, Sister is one of four children. She graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology and worked for a technology company for 2 years until 2016, when she entered the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate. Since her entrance, Sister received a Graduate Certificate of Completion in Religious Education from Holy Apostles College and Seminary and deepened her life of prayer, community, and apostolic service through her formation in the community. Sister was blessed to serve in various catechetical roles and assist in Catholic summer programs such as Camp Veritas, Vacation Bible School, and Summer Life Camp. She also served in various apostolates including door-to-door visitation in Philadelphia and in temporary missions in Upper Michigan and Ireland. On May 31, 2019, Sister made her First Profession of Vows and later served for 2 years as the Coordinator of Religious Education in New Jersey. After assisting in the Faith Formation Programs here in Warren since September 2023, Sister is excited to bring the JOY of knowing Jesus to all as Coordinator of Religious Education.
Sr. Debra Marie is a Junior Sister with the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate. Originally from upstate New York, Sister is the youngest of three children. The rest of her family resides in Liverpool, New York. She graduated from the State University of New York at Geneseo with a Spanish major and Theatre minor. She has served as a pastoral associate for Hispanic migrants, religious education coordinator, youth minister and pastoral associate for nursing home residents prior to entering the convent. She made her first vows on May 6, 2022 and is thrilled to receive Warren, Ohio as her first assignment as a Parish Visitor Sister. She looks forward to the opportunity to share with others the deep abiding joy she finds in following Jesus and spreading the good news of God’s infinite love for each and every one.
Mary Kay Krisman worked for state government for 37 years in different positions, until she retired in 2010. During the time that she was working, she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Kent State University. After retiring, she wanted to do some volunteering. This was around the same time when the two churches merged; she started volunteering at the St. Cyril's kitchen in helping to make pirohy, kolachi and Easter bread. The comradery with all the workers is an experience she will always treasure and never forget and she urges anyone who h as some extra time to come and participate. You won't regret it. Through the recommendation of a parishioner, she applied for and got a temporary job that was available in the parish office; filling in and helping out where needed for a couple of months. That was nine years ago. She is currently the Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper at the parish office. It has truly been a great learning experience working in several different capacities as well as very rewarding; mostly due from the great support of the members of this parish.
Ana is a lifelong member of St Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish and former graduate of John F Kennedy High School. She and her husband, Michael, have 3 children that attend JFK Lower Campus. Ana’s first ministry, formed last year, created our Family Life Apostolate that is geared towards fun, family fellowship events for our parishes. Ana is humbled and honored to be leading Youth Ministry for all three Warren Catholic parishes and Apostolates at Seton. She has a strong passion and desire for working with our children and teens.
Ana says, “I believe our beautiful catholic faith is the greatest gift to teach, learn, grow, and build our foundation on. I’m excited to be a part of seeing God’s work and grace unfold and to help guide our children on that beautiful journey that is uniquely created for each of them. I cannot wait to see what this year has in store for our teens and soon to be young adults. They are the hope and future leaders of our faith, and what a blessing that is to be!”
As a lifelong member of the St. James site I began to play the organ in church in 1963 while as a student at St. James School. I continued to occasionally play for a variety of services and Sunday Mass through grade school and high school. After returning to Warren from the Ohio State University in 1971, I was asked by the director of the newly formed St. James Cantate Choir, Ron Karrenbauer, to be the organist. I have continued in that position off and on for a number of years, taking over as director and organist in the mid 1980s. After an international assignment with my main employer, my family and I returned to Warren where I returned to the choir as organist and director in the early 2000s and have been there since. With the creation of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, I assumed these duties at that site as well. It has been a pleasure and an honor to be associated with such fine people and pastors as I have with our parish.
Linda had family in Youngstown and when they were visiting her mother took the test to work at the Post Office. Several months later her mother she was offered a job. Linda along with her mother and brothers moved to Ohio from New York in 1969. Eventually, Linda and one of her brothers would also work at the Post Office. Linda and her mother are both retired from there now. She has a husband Mark, he is a retired millwright.; and two daughters, Lauren (23) and Linda (22). Lauren just bought her first house! We are so proud of her. She works at Great Clips and does pretty good for herself there. She has a kind and caring attitude and much of the haircuts she does are on people who request her. Linda met Mark on a blind date, as well as her mother and stepfather and one of her brothers and his wife. Pay attention singles - don't dismiss it when your friends want you to meet someone!! I have been working at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton for about four months. I never realized how much goes on behind the scenes to make everything work. It has been fulfilling to learn all the things I have so far and I look forward to new challenges.
Julana has been a member at St. James (now St. EAS) since 1962, when she was baptized. She started teaching CCD in 1992. Julana began working at the parish in 1997 for Father Crumbley as his cook. Then housekeeping was added to her job. Julana loves her my job and feels blessed to have a job that allows her to always be available her family's needs. Her entire family including herself have played music for mass, have been Eucharistic ministers, readers and volunteers for whatever the church was doing at that time. She LOVES music and everyone knows where she is at by following the sound of her voice singing to the music. Her favorite saying "All IS GOOD!"
Jonathan Bland is part of the maintenance crew at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. He has been employed with St. Elizabeth Ann Seton since 2008. Jon. Bland has also been employed with Blessed Sacrament, where he was a supervisor of a maintenance crew for 7 years. He also works at Howland PsyCare as a clinical social worker; where he councils children, adults and families with mental/behavioral/communal health issues.
Jim as born May 18, 1953 in Warren Ohio. His parents were Joseph and Pauline Gorse. He is a lifelong Catholic and attended Catholic schools through eighth grade. He graduated from Howland High school. Following graduation, he worked at Copperweld Steel and Kmart Distribution Center.
Jim has been married for 38 years and they have 3 daughters and 4 grandchildren.
Sal is the head of Maintenance at Blessed Sacrament as well as employed in maintenance program at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton He also serves on SEAS Pastoral Council along with Usher and Money Counting Ministries. Sal has an Associate Degree in Mechanical Engineering and was a Journeyman Machine Repairman. He is a former Sergeant in the US Marine Corps, Retired Captain from Howland Fire Department and currently is a member of the Howland Township Zoning Commission.
Sal is married and together with his wife Patty have 3 daughters and 5 grandchildren. Sal loves projects and woodworking and is thrilled to share his time and talent between the two parishes.
Marie Therese has been the sacristan at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton for 15 years. She enjoys the job and the parishioners she has gotten to know over the years. Marie Therese is thankful for all the parishioners who volunteered to help decorate the church during the different liturgical seasons; as “we all look forward to working together.”
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